Ombudsman`s Office makes statement on "1000 AMD" draft law

ArmInfo.  Armenian  Ombudsman's Office has made a statement related to the draft law "On  compensation for harm to life or health of servicemen defending the  Republic of Armenia".

"The draft law developed by the Defense Ministry has sparked wide  public outcry. Active public discussions on the draft law are ongoing  demonstrating that there is a task to ensure public trust towards the  issue. Ensuring confidence towards the draft has exclusive importance  on the current stage considering legitimacy of the presented system  and its further appliance", the statement of the Ombudsman's Office  received by ArmInfo reads. 

At the same time the Ombudsman's Office considers that a number of  measures should be taken related to the criticism and concerns, which  the draft law has raised. Particularly, it is necessary to hold wide  public discussions, involving mass media and study all the issues  arising concerns, ensure maximal transparency of the future Fund. The  Fund's reports should be published and its work should be controlled  by the civil society. At the same time it is mentioned that all these  measures should be formalized in legislation. 

To note, according to the draft the families of the killed and first  degree handicapped individuals will receive a onetime compensation of  10 million AMD.  The families of the second degree handicapped  servicemen will receive a onetime compensation of 5 million AMD.  Monthly compensations in case of death of the serviceman or the first  degree handicap will make 300,000 AMD for the officers, 250,000 AMD  for the junior officers and 200,000 for the privates. In case of  becoming the second degree handicap, the compensations will  respectively make 200,000; 150,000; and 100,000 AMD. That amount, in  the form of insurance benefit, will be paid out for 20 years, which  will make 82 million AMD for the officers, 70 million AMD for the  junior officer staff, and 58 million AMD for the privates. The  program will be financed through a special fund to which every  working person will monthly contribute one thousand AMD.